Sheriff?s office, DEA collecting prescription drugs; D.O.T. has requirements for political signs

Sheriff?s office, DEA collecting prescription drugs

The Jefferson County Sheriff?s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration are offering area residents an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

Medications for disposal can be taken to the Jefferson County Law Center from 10 a.m. to 2 pm. Sept. 29. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

?We did this in April and had a wonderful response,? said Chief Deputy Gregg Morton.

Last April, Americans turned in 552,161 pounds ? 276 tons ? of prescription drugs at more than 5,600 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,300 state and local law enforcement partners. In its four previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in more than 1.5 million pounds ? nearly 775 tons ? of pills.

The initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised their usual methods for disposing unused medicines ? flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash ? pose potential safety and health hazards.

D.O.T. has requirements for political signs

AMES ? Officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation remind campaigners of the statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the placement of political campaign signs in the state.

A section of the Iowa D.O.T.?s website is devoted to answering the most frequently asked questions about legal posting of such signs ? www.iowadot.gov/iowaroadsigns/pol_sign_info.html.

?We realize that most sign violations are the result of efforts of ardent campaign supporters who are unfamiliar with the laws.? said Iowa D.O.T. spokeswoman Dena Gray-Fisher. ?Therefore, the Iowa D.O.T. has prepared information to be used as a guide for political candidates, party chairs, campaign workers and election officials, to help them become acquainted with the laws before this year?s signs are posted.?

The Iowa D.O.T. is urging individuals to visit the website or speak to their political headquarters to insure campaign signs are properly placed and to avoid having signs removed from the public right of way.